Division of Student Affairs Newsletter

Friday, March 27, 2026

Dear Colleagues,

As March draws to a close, the spring semester is in full stride, and there is much to celebrate across the division. Thank you for your continued dedication - your work continues to support student development and growth as active members of SUNY Brockport and beyond.

For me, this has been an active and energizing month professionally. I participated in the Annual Student Leadership Conference, themed “Young Leaders in a Changing World,” which drew student leaders from 15 campuses, attended the SUNY Council of Senior Student Affairs Officers (CCSAO) meeting virtually, and represented Brockport at the NASPA Conference in Kansas City. There, I connected with partners from TimelyCare and Edsights and served on a panel discussing how Senior Student Affairs Officers (SSAO) create impactful on-campus professional development that drives student success. NASPA President Dr. Amelia Parnell offered a timely overview of the landscape facing student affairs, including the declining enrollment of international students and data from the 2025 Lumina Foundation/Gallup State of Higher Education Survey showing that 60% of students who stopped out cited loneliness or isolation as a contributing factor - a powerful reminder of why our work on student engagement matters.

Dean of Students Dave Bagley has hit the ground running. Since joining the division, he has been engaged in a campus-wide listening tour, meeting with colleagues across Student Affairs as well as faculty and leaders throughout the institution. He also participated in a tabletop crisis exercise with Tim Durfee and the Hazen Center staff, and represented Brockport at NASPA, where conversations reaffirmed the importance of integrated care and cross-divisional collaboration. I am grateful to have him leading the Dean of Students Office as we move into a dynamic spring season.

National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE)

This spring, first-year students and seniors will be invited to complete the National Survey of Student Engagement (NSSE), a nationally recognized survey that gathers student perspectives on the quality of their academic and co-curricular experiences. Results help Brockport identify strengths, areas for growth, and opportunities to better support student success.

Students will receive a personal email invitation with a unique survey link. The survey takes approximately 15 minutes to complete. We encourage faculty and staff to take a moment to let students know the survey is coming and to encourage their participation.

Looking Ahead: Spring 2026

The remaining weeks of the spring semester will be especially active and meaningful for our campus community:

• We will welcome future Golden Eagles through Accepted Student Open Houses on March 28 and April 18
• Celebrate academic inquiry and achievement during Scholar’s Day on Tuesday, April 14
• Recognize student excellence through end-of-year awards and recognition programs during University Honors and Awards Ceremony on Friday, April 24
• Students will enjoy Eagle Day, BSGs end of the year social event on May 2,
• A Celebration of Student Leadership, our culminating celebration of student involvement, will highlight the leadership, impact, and vitality of our clubs and organizations on Friday May 8
• and our spring athletics teams will continue to represent Brockport with distinction.

Collectively, these moments reflect the powerful intersection of academic engagement, co-curricular learning, and community connection that defines the Brockport experience.

Ask Ellsworth

Ask Ellsworth, our SMS-based student engagement chatbot, continues to gain traction across campus. Recent campaigns have focused on academic engagement, financial support, and wellness check-ins, all designed to connect students who may be struggling with the resources available to them. Campaigns will continue throughout the remainder of the semester and will expand to include course registration reminders. Ask Ellsworth has also helped introduce students to newer resources such as TimelyCare and has supported lighthearted engagement opportunities like a campus “Hot Takes” game. Currently, approximately 51% of students are actively using and engaging with the platform, a promising sign of growing reach and trust.

Hazen Center for Integrated Care

The Hazen Center has received grant funding to support Mental Health First Aid Instructor Training and will send three candidates this spring. The TimelyCare 24/7 telehealth platform continues to grow in student awareness and use. Hazen staff also participated in the February 26 Poverty Simulation, a meaningful professional development opportunity that deepened staff understanding of the financial barriers many of our students navigate. Hazen is pleased to welcome Healthcare Administration intern Raina Serth, our first intern from this academic program.

Mental Health Emergency Grants

Students experiencing a crisis or facing financial barriers to accessing mental health services may apply for grants of up to $1,000. For more information, visit brockport.edu/support/student-affairs/basic-needs/financial.

Residential Life & Learning Communities

More than 200 students participated in the “Wear the Change” clothing and item swap, a community-centered initiative promoting sustainability, equity, and care for one another. Remaining items were donated to the campus community and the broader Rochester area. The Creative Artists Learning Community also welcomed guest choreographer Mandi Lynn Griffith for an engaging dance workshop.

University Police

University Police will host the 7th annual Citizens Police Academy in April, offering a five-week series covering policing practices, career pathways, and specialized topics including the K-9 program and investigations. Interested participants may register at Citizens Police Academy.

Civic Engagement & Community Service (SULA)

This semester’s deliberative dialogue series continues with upcoming sessions on policing (April 2) and youth and opportunity (April 21). The ALICE Experience, an interactive simulation exploring financial decision-making, was held March 26.

Students and colleagues are also invited to our first Civic Cafe on April 8, 4-6pm, featuring Rochester City Councilmember Stanley Martin. Details and registration are available. Additional engagement opportunities include the Day of Action (April 3) and Denim Day (April 29).

Trash to Treasure Volunteer Sign-Ups

Trash to Treasure signups are now open! Help us sort donations we receive from students as they move out of their dorms in May. Click here to sign up: https://serve.brockport.edu/need/detail/?need_id=1224480

Campus Recreation

Campus Recreation continues to serve as a hub of student engagement, health, and competitive spirit across the division.

Club Sports

Our club sport program is thriving with 1,042 active unique members this semester. Several teams are representing Brockport on the national stage this spring:

• Men’s Hockey competed at the AAU National Championships in Jacksonville, FL, finishing 4th in the nation after a hard-fought run to the national semifinals.
• Men’s Volleyball travels to Kansas City, MO for the NCVF Championships, April 2-4.
• Gymnastics competes at Nationals in Birmingham, AL, April 8-11.
• Dance heads to the NDA Championships in Jacksonville, FL, April 10-13.

SERC Fitness Center

Faculty and staff memberships for the remainder of the semester are now available for less than $35. We encourage colleagues to take advantage of this opportunity to stay active and well.

Ice Arena

The Ice Arena is closed for the season and will reopen in September. Thank you to all who participated in programming this year.

Upcoming Events

American Red Cross Blood Drive

Date: April 1 | Time: 12:00 - 5:00 PM | Location: Seymour Union Ballroom

All donors will receive a Red Cross x Life is Good T-shirt.

To schedule an appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or visit RedCrossBlood.org (sponsor code: sunybrockport). To save time on the day of your donation, complete your pre-donation health history in advance at RedCrossBlood.org/RapidPass.

Deliberative Dialogue: Policing

Join members of the SUNY Brockport community for a timely conversation on Policing in the United States.

Thursday, April 2, 2026 | Seymour Union | 12:30 - 1:45 p.m. EDT

Scholars Day

April 14 | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM

Join the Brockport community as we celebrate student research, internships, field experiences, fine arts performances, and peer mentorship, a powerful showcase of the depth and breadth of student learning at Brockport.